Dan’s Auto Clinic

Brakes & Suspension

Dan’s Auto Clinic

Brakes & Suspension

With the harsh weather and rough road conditions common in Michigan, your brakes and suspension really take a beating. If you don’t know what to watch for, you’ll potentially miss the early signs that various brake or suspension components are going out on your car.

Save yourself some hassle and learn from Dan’s Auto Clinic LLC all about these issues.

With the harsh weather and rough road conditions common in Michigan, your brakes and suspension really take a beating. If you don’t know what to watch for, you’ll potentially miss the early signs that various brake or suspension components are going out on your car.

Save yourself some hassle and learn from Dan’s Auto Clinic LLC all about these issues.

Potholes

Any driver in Michigan knows at least something about the horror of coming up on a massive pothole at the last second, especially with so many here. If you’re lucky, there’s a way to avoid the worst potholes, but you won’t always have that luxury. That’s unfortunate, because potholes are especially rough on your car, thanks to the harsh and sudden forces they exert:

Several suspension components can break, such as the shocks, struts, and ball joints

The impact can bend the suspension to the point that your car is out of alignment

If you notice the suspension is vibrating, making sounds like creaking/squeaking, or leaning to one side and pulling your vehicle that direction, you’re likely looking at replacing several components

Your steering might be loose, making your car less responsive when turning

Uneven tire wear can be a sign of worn suspension components

A qualified shop like ours can correct these suspension problems quickly, ensuring your car is in alignment as well.

Potholes

Any driver in Michigan knows at least something about the horror of coming up on a massive pothole at the last second, especially with so many here. If you’re lucky, there’s a way to avoid the worst potholes, but you won’t always have that luxury. That’s unfortunate, because potholes are especially rough on your car, thanks to the harsh and sudden forces they exert:

Several suspension components can break, such as the shocks, struts, and ball joints

The impact can bend the suspension to the point that your car is out of alignment

If you notice the suspension is vibrating, making sounds like creaking/squeaking, or leaning to one side and pulling your vehicle that direction, you’re likely looking at replacing several components

Your steering might be loose, making your car less responsive when turning

Uneven tire wear can be a sign of worn suspension components

A qualified shop like ours can correct these suspension problems quickly, ensuring your car is in alignment as well.

Dirt
Roads

Traveling on unpaved roads regularly can also put a strain on your vehicle’s suspension.

The uneven surface makes your suspension components move more, often in an up-and-down motion. That causes those parts to fail more rapidly. This is true no matter how fast or slow you drive on the roads.

Dirt from the road cakes onto your suspension and other components, spreading minerals on the metal. If it’s in the form of mud, water also gets introduced to the mix. Rust and other types of corrosion are often quick to follow.

While you might not have a choice about leaving the pavement, or you just like getting away from it all, there’s good news. We can gladly fix any issues caused by driving on dirt roads, so your vehicle continues to perform just as it was designed.

Dirt
Roads

Traveling on unpaved roads regularly can also put a strain on your vehicle’s suspension.

The uneven surface makes your suspension components move more, often in an up-and-down motion. That causes those parts to fail more rapidly. This is true no matter how fast or slow you drive on the roads.

Dirt from the road cakes onto your suspension and other components, spreading minerals on the metal. If it’s in the form of mud, water also gets introduced to the mix. Rust and other types of corrosion are often quick to follow.

While you might not have a choice about leaving the pavement, or you just like getting away from it all, there’s good news. We can gladly fix any issues caused by driving on dirt roads, so your vehicle continues to perform just as it was designed.

Brake
Trouble

The most common problem report with brakes is that they squeal of make noises. You might not notice this if you’re always driving with music turned way up, showing the value of occasional silence.

Sometimes squealing lasts for only a moment, thanks to a thin layer of corrosion building on the rotors while your car sits. The same thing goes if it’s been raining or is especially cold outside. The sound goes away in a moment, but it might return later when your car sits for a time.

Consistent squealing each time you press on the brake pedal likely means you need to have the brake pads changed.

Grinding or other strange noises might indicate a problem with your brakes.

Brake
Trouble

The most common problem report with brakes is that they squeal of make noises. You might not notice this if you’re always driving with music turned way up, showing the value of occasional silence.

Sometimes squealing lasts for only a moment, thanks to a thin layer of corrosion building on the rotors while your car sits. The same thing goes if it’s been raining or is especially cold outside. The sound goes away in a moment, but it might return later when your car sits for a time.

Consistent squealing each time you press on the brake pedal likely means you need to have the brake pads changed.

Grinding or other strange noises might indicate a problem with your brakes.